With the introduction of new features at the Adobe Max 2024 conference, the Adobe apps will upgrade for anyone with a Creative Cloud subscription. Photoshop 2025 introduces new features along with updates to old features, so we'll help you relearn these edits using the improved techniques available within the app. There’s always things to learn in Photoshop, new or old, but here are some interesting twists that Photoshop 2025 will require you to relearn.

5 Distracting cable removal

You can remove cables in one fell swoop

Ever take a picture of a cityscape? You’ll often find cables and wires distracting an otherwise picturesque sky. Photoshop has had options for removing objects or cables for years, including the Clone Stamp tool, Pattern Stamp tool, Patch tool, Spot Healing tool, as well as more manual options like the Eraser and Brush tools.

Now, there’s a specified option for removing wires and cables. It really takes the time out of fixing up your image, easily giving you the beautiful landscape image you intended.

To find this new tool, go to the Remove tool in the toolbar, or hit J on your keyboard, although the Remove Tool may be nested under another J-key tool. With the Remove Tool selected, select Find Distractions at the top, and choose one-click removal: Wires and cables.

You also have the option to use AI or not for this feature. While using AI is likely to produce better results, there are many reasons people prefer to avoid AI when given the choice. Choose this under the Mode dropdown in the top menu.

After a short wait, your image will appear with all cables, wires, and similar chaos removed successfully and seamlessly. This tool saves so much time and mental energy by removing such mundane distractions for you.

4 Remove people from photos

Identify and remove unwanted people easily

Similar to the cable removal tool, the 2025 Photoshop update also brings a new, faster way to remove distracting and unwanted background people. I have to say, this removal option isn’t as successful at the job as the cable and wire removal tool is, so you may prefer to stick with your traditional techniques for removing humans.

Select the Remove tool once again, and in the top menu under Find Distractions, choose Editable: People. This allows Photoshop’s AI to scan your image and identify any background people — or people the machine deems as not integral to the subject of your image. This is where it sometimes makes a mistake.

With an image that displays very obvious background people, such as faraway tourists when you’re posing in front of the Eiffel Tower, the AI works successfully and seamlessly. However, there are many instances where the AI doesn’t correctly recognize humans, or where it cannot discern that specific humans are not considered the main subject of the photo.

This can be a problem when the subject in the photo isn't obvious enough. But the interesting thing is that some people using certain operating systems face this problem more consistently, while it works just fine for them when using a different OS.

Even though this tool is already rolled out in the full version of Photoshop, I still hope to see it continue to improve in the next few months. Especially because when it does work, it works successfully with no AI tell.

3 Better generated images

Process remains, but output is improved

While this item isn’t a change of technique for you as a Photoshop user, it is a change in output for you to consider.

Adobe Photoshop’s AI now runs on Adobe Firefly 4, compared with its predecessor which used model 3. The AI improvements really add a layer of realism to your AI-generated results that just wasn’t there in Firefly 3.

This major improvement might be enough to make you reconsider adding AI-generated imagery within your professional designs. This results in using less external sources, money, and time, yielding more great art and designs created more quickly.

2 Store your generated images

Beta way to organize your AI results

This feature is currently in beta mode, but as it was released during the Adobe 2025 update, it’s worth mentioning since it will surely be game-changing.

Photoshop’s new Generative Workspace is currently in beta mode; however, it has a promising future. To access it, download Photoshop Beta from your Creative Cloud portal. From the homepage of Photoshop Beta, select Generative Workspace to open the window.

The aim of Generative Workspace is to allow you to organize and manage your generated images - but not only for file management. The Generative Workspace also helps you modify and iterate on your generated images, as well as batch process them.

This adds a huge change in your workflow when using AI imagery in Photoshop. You can keep a running history of all the generated AI images you’ve created, and then use them for any projects.

Unlike most AI generators, you can add a variable within the prompt box to batch produce a series of images that match your requirements.

I’m not huge on AI tools and features, but I think this tool will help for better AI image management and customization. There isn’t really a workflow it’s replacing, but it will save you from needing to manually save every AI image you generate in Photoshop.

1 Better background removal workflow

AI comes in handy here

In Photoshop 2025, you can now successfully remove — and regenerate — backgrounds in seconds. No longer must you draw your own selection around an object, invert your selection, and remove the background. Now, you just select your image, choose Remove Background, and after a few seconds, it’s done. Not only that, but the results are great, too.

Once removed, you can regenerate a new background using the AI too. You’ll get three variations to choose from, or you can select to generate three further options.

This new background removal process speeds up your workflow massively. The AI understands how to mask and select any part of the background, and fill it in with something realistic and high quality to save you from taking the time to do it yourself.

Better workflow for 2025

Photoshop often brings updates that may seem chaotic to begin with, but ultimately, it helps improve your workflow. The latest features, which largely include AI features, speed up your techniques from traditionally slow and repetitive tasks to one-click-wonders. You’ll need to relearn a few techniques, in exchange for the greater efficiency they offer. New features promote a better workstream, saving you time and energy in the process.